Beaty's contract extended
BY CHARLOTTE SMITH Editor

Troup ISD trustee Bill Lacy (left) presents a certificate and letter of commendation to Larry Haire, Kilgore National Bank's president and chief executive officer.

Supt. Marvin Beaty's contract was extended by one year, with a 5 percent annual salary increase, at Monday's regular meeting of the Troup ISD school board.

Trustees met for approximately one hour in executive session before voting unanimously to accept the superintendent's yearly evaluation; the vote to extend Beaty's contract was 5-0-1, with trustee Keith Lindsey abstaining. Trustee Kent Lindsey was not present.

In other matters, trustees bestowed a Texas Association of School Boards commendation to Larry Haire, president and chief executive officer of Kilgore National Bank. In presenting the award - in conjunction with school board appreciation month - Supt. Beaty said the board is "only as strong as the people running it," and the support and understanding of employers such as Haire is necessary for good people to be able to serve.

Haire is the employer of trustee Bill Lacy, who is the branch manager of KNB subsidiary Troup Banking Center. Beaty also praised Lacy for his invaluable service to the board and the community.

High school principal Derek Driver with teacher of the month Karen Agnew, family and consumer sciences.

Trustees were also honored with a board recognition dinner in the elementary cafeteria prior to the regular 6:30 p.m. meeting.

In other agenda items, campus principals recognized students and teacher of the month. Elementary principal Debbie Moxley introduced J.T. Womack, first grade, and Trenton Burke, four th; middle school principal Ava Johnson presented Andrew Warren, eighth; and high school principal Derek Driver honored student Janna Ross, junior, and teacher Karen Agnew.

Also, trustees accepted written repor ts from Shannon Capps, technology; Judy Daniel, daycare; John Eastman, athletics; and Katie Preast, curriculum.

Dewayne Brown, director of support services, updated the board on building projects and renovations to the baseball field. He also gave the board a written summary of changes to the 2007 elections.

The key change in policy is requiring a school district to join with a city, municipality or county in holding elections at one polling place. If the school goes with the city, elections will remain in May; with the county, voting will take place in November.

Driver introduces high school student of the month Janna Ross, a junior.

Keith Lindsey questioned how the county option would affect voters since the Troup school district is in both Smith and Cherokee counties. Brown and Beaty said if the school goes with the county and November elections, then residents of Cherokee County would have to vote in more than one location to cast a vote in the school elections.

Beaty said aligning with the city and keeping the elections in May seemed the best course in light of the dilemma presented because of the dual county situation, as well as the necessity of amending and extending board terms until November.

The deadline for approving an election plan is Feb. 26.

Jill Spearman gave a brief financial report, and Supt. Beaty also gave two short reports concerning upgrading the softball field and the addition of a school resource officer. Both of these matters are being looked at by school attorneys before proceeding further.

Elementary principal Debbie Moxley presents students of the month J.T. Womack (left), first grade, and Trenton Burke, fourth grade.

The board also approved, if necessary, a waiver to the maximum class size. Dr. Preast requested the waiver based on a first-grade class that currently is one student over the approved ratio of 22 students to one teacher.

Prior to executive session, the board also approved consent items including minutes, approval of expenditures, budget amendments and approval of additional classroom/aide substitutes.

Also up for approval on the consent agenda (items to be considered at one time) were several updates for local board policy; trustee Keith Lindsey asked that these items be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.

At question was the proposed wording of the updated policies. Supt. Beaty suggested the items be tabled, and he would present the board with more specific information (trust- ees had previously been given a summary of policy changes). A motion by Lindsey to table the items for further review was approved.

Of his contract extension, Supt. Beaty said, "They're very good to me and my family."

"I work for the best board in East Texas, and I love my job.

Principal Ava Johnson with middle school student of the month Andrew Warren, eighth grade.